Management of asymptomatic cases stressed

China issued management standards for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on April 8, urging improved work on discovering, reporting and management of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.

Intensified efforts should be made to screen and discover asymptomatic cases, according to the circular issued by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council.

It also stressed standardized reporting process for asymptomatic cases, and urged all types of medical and health institutions at all levels to report asymptomatic cases through a direct online system within two hours.

Health departments at central and provincial level should publicize the management condition of asymptomatic cases every day, it said.

Asymptomatic cases should undergo 14-day concentrated medical observation. Those who show COVID-19 symptoms during the quarantine should be converted to confirmed cases.

Asymptomatic carriers can only be released from quarantine upon two consecutive negative nucleic acid test results, with a sampling interval of no less than 24 hours.

Asymptomatic cases should be transferred to designated medical institutions for treatment once they show clinical manifestation of COVID-19 during the medical observation.

Close contacts of asymptomatic cases should also undergo 14-day concentrated medical observation.

Once they are discharged, 14-day follow-up medical observation and visits should be conducted.

Screening tests will be expanded to close contacts of both confirmed cases and asymptomatic cases.

Scientific research on infectiousness, transmission, and epidemiology of asymptomatic cases will be supported, the circular said.

The circular also urged efforts to strengthen information communication and conduct cooperation with the World Health Organization, as well as other countries and international organizations to adjust the diagnosis and treatment plan, and prevention and control measures.